BANDAI HOPES TO SCORE WITH MLS COLLECTIBLE FIGURES

CA-based Bandai Toys will release three lines of MLS-
licenced products in late February and early March,
according to Mike Reynolds in INSIDE MEDIA. Four-inch
collectible figures and two-inch key chain replicas
characterizing one star player from each of the ten MLS
franchises will be released, as well as a soft, four-inch
soccer ball with the MLS logo and one team's colors. Bandai
has also forged an alliance with Upper Deck to make MLS
trading cards to be delivered at the start of the MLS season
in late March. The plastic action poses will portray: the
Mutiny's Carlos Valderrama, the Revolution's Alexi Lalas,
Wiz' Frank Klopas, the Clash's Eric Wynalda, the MetroStars'
Tab Ramos, the Galaxy's Cobi Jones, the United's John
Harkes, the Burn's Hugo Sanchez, the Rapids' Marcelo Balboa
and the Crew's Doctor Khumalo (INSIDE MEDIA, 11/27 issue).
MORE MLS NEWS: Kraft Foods is "expected to announce"
it's signing as a corporate sponsor, MLS's second-highest
level of commercial affiliation. MLS Dir/Sponsorship
Programs Kathryn Carter stated that Kraft would "likely" use
the relationship to test many stadium-level programs in '97.
MLS has also received "more of a marketing assist" from
sponsor Nike, who has disbursed some funds "previously
earmarked for a national sponsorship program" with MLB to
MLS (INSIDE MEDIA, 11/27 issue).